# Melon Mini — Unreal Engine Pack

*An AppalachAI Studios asset pack, prepped for Unreal Engine and Fab.*

**Collection:** squishy-foodies-vol-1
**Asset ID:** `melon_mini` · **Slug:** `melon-mini`
**Version:** 1.0.0
**License tier:** Free Starter

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## Howdy, Unreal creators

AI-assisted, studio QC'd, and game-ready. This pack imports cleanly into Unreal and is set up so you can list it on **Fab** without a lot of fuss.

## What's inside

- `README.md` (readme)
- `LICENSE.md` (license)
- `manifest.json` (manifest)
- `thumbnails/melon_mini_thumb.svg` (thumbnail)
- `thumbnails/melon_mini.png` (render_thumbnail)
- `models/melon_mini.fbx` (fbx)
- `fab_listing.md` (listing_copy)
- `animations/animation_manifest.json` (animation_manifest)
- `animations/idle_bounce.json` (animation_recipe)
- `animations/squish_impact.json` (animation_recipe)
- `animations/wobble_recover.json` (animation_recipe)
- `animations/rare_celebration.json` (animation_recipe)

## Quick start — import the FBX

1. In the **Content Browser**, make a home for it (e.g. `Content/AppalachAI/Melon Mini/`).
2. Click **Import**, choose the included **FBX**, and in the FBX Import Options:
   - **Import Mesh** on; **Skeletal Mesh** off unless the asset is rigged.
   - **Generate Lightmap UVs** on for static meshes you'll light bake.
   - **Combine Meshes** as needed if the FBX has multiple parts.
3. Import the textures alongside, then build a **Material** (or Material Instance) and plug in Base Color, Normal, and ORM/roughness-metallic maps.
4. Drag the Static Mesh into your level.

## Scale & orientation

- Unreal is **centimeters, Z-up, left-handed**. One Unreal unit = 1 cm, so 100 units = 1 meter. If the model imports tiny or huge, fix the **Import Uniform Scale** rather than scaling in-level.
- Check the **forward axis** — Unreal's forward is +X. Rotate the mesh or set the import axis options if it faces the wrong way.

## Texture notes

- Mark Normal maps as **Normalmap** compression; keep Base Color as **sRGB** and packed ORM/roughness/metallic as **linear (sRGB off)**.

## Animation

If this asset moves, the motion is often **procedural** rather than skeletal — drive it with a Blueprint or the included engine animator logic. No skeletal rig is required for the squishy idle motion.

## Fab listing prep

Getting ready to publish on **Fab**? Here's a tidy checklist:

- **Thumbnails / hero images:** use the included previews; Fab likes clean, well-lit shots on a neutral background.
- **Naming:** keep the asset and material names consistent and prefixed (e.g. `SM_melon-mini`, `M_melon-mini`).
- **Folder structure:** ship everything under one tidy parent folder so buyers get a clean drop-in.
- **Polycount & texture sizes:** note these in the listing — buyers want to know before they download.
- **License tier:** make sure your Fab listing's license matches **Free Starter** for this pack.
- See **`fab_listing.md`** in this pack for ready-to-paste listing copy.

## License — Free Starter

Free to use in personal or small commercial projects. Attribution appreciated.

All sample IP in this pack is owned by **AppalachAI Studios**. © 2026 AppalachAI Studios.

## Support

Questions before you publish? Email **hello@appalachaistudios.com**.

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*Made with care by AppalachAI Studios. Pack version 1.0.0.*
